By James Gillray. A drunken debauch in the new Union Club. A long table, the cloth removed, one end cut off by the left margin, stretches almost across the design, slanting back slightly from the left, where it is in the foreground, and where Fox, grossly corpulent, sits in an armchair asleep, his feet on the table, a pipe in one hand. Nearly opposite his feet is the chair of state, on the table; on the empty seat is the Prince's cocked hat with triple plume, his motto 'Ich Di[en]' within the crown. The chair is backed by an elaborate architectural canopy with ornate pilasters on which swags of fruit and flowers are carved in relief: (left) grapes and lemons (materials for punch), and (right) roses and shamrocks. Above the seat are figures of Britannia and Erin, kissing, standing on a curved base inscribed 'The Union'. On the back of the chair are two clasped hands, elaborately irradiated. The chair is surrounded by broken wine-bottles; its former occupant, the Prince, lies on his back under the table, one arm flung over Lord Stanhope, who lies unconscious, clasping a bottle. On the Prince's stomach rest two feet in shoes with spiked, upcurved toes. In the foreground, opposite the Prince, Norfolk lies with his head against the seat of his overturned chair, looking very ill. All who are not incapacitated or fighting are toasting the Union (except Lansdowne and Parr, see below). On the table sits Moira, a glass of wine held high above his head, his right leg thrust forward, while he stretches back to take the hand of Lord Clermont, seated next Sheridan on the farther side of the table. Facing Clermont and in back view, Camelford sits erect, wearing a Jean de Bry coat and small round hat, with cropped hair. Beside him (right) two waiters bring in a full tub of Whiskey Punch, which they spill; one treads on the face of the prostrate Nicholls. Near the end of the table (right) sits Derby, his large head and crumpled features grotesquely caricatured. In the foreground on the extreme right Montagu Mathew and Skeffington advance dancing arm-in-arm, with tipsy grace, the former with a bottle in each hand; one reversed, the other, held above his head, splashes its contents over his partner's uplifted glass. (The pair, according to 'London und Paris', vii, 1801, p. 76, were known as inseparables in fashionable London resorts). On the farther side of the table, on the extreme left, Bedford sleeps against the side of the chair of state, on which Tierney leans, vomiting. Behind Tierney, and in shadow, are the sharp profile and high cocked hat of Walpole. Seated at the table are the following left to right): Erskine leans asleep against the chair; he has a little covered pot of spirits. Sheridan, a Silenus, raises a bottle and holds his glass. Next him is Clermont (mentioned above). Lansdowne and Dr. Parr sit together, both with pipes; the latter's right hand rests on the former's shoulder. Lansdowne smiles inscrutably; he uses a cross attached to a rosary (symbol of 'Malagrida' the Jesuit and of the materialist) as a tobacco stopper; before him is his friend's tobacco box inscribed 'Belendenus' his box. Parr holds a frothing tankard inscribed 'Union', and puffs a blast of smoke towards Queensberry (right), who sips his wine with a leer. Behind Erskine, General Davies the caricaturist, in profile to the left, pulls the nose of (?) Sir Jonah Barrington [The identification by Wright and Evans seems to apply to this figure.] and raises a horsewhip to strike; the other brandishes a bottle and prepares to claw Davies's face. Behind Clermont stands the tall Lord Cholmondeley, arms raised, hat in one hand, glass in the other. Near him and behind Sheridan are the head and shoulders of the ugly and deformed Lord Kirkcudbright, peering through an eye-glass. Behind Lansdowne, Parr, and Queensberry, George Hanger (with a black eye) threatens with clenched fist Sturt (with bleeding nose, but impassive) and Tyrwhitt Jones, who registers alarm. This corpulent pair seem to be waltzing together. Hanger, Sturt, and Jones wear voluminous shirts over their coats, Start's is checked, like that of a sailor, indicating according to 'London und Paris' (vii. 84) his fondness for the sea. In the background, crowded with figures, is wild confusion, with a free fight in progress: a military officer raises a chair to smite; poker, brush, tongs, a stool, bottles, glasses etc are weapons or missiles. A lighted chandelier is being broken. In a musician's gallery (right) five men, in Windsor uniform, impassively play 'God save the King' on wind instruments. There is an ornate Wall clock (left) with carved figures of Bacchus and Time clasping hands, the latter holding up a goblet and trampling on his hour-glass; the dial is engraved 'W. Pitt, 1801' [maker of the Union], the hands point to 2.50. In the foreground and smirched with wine lies Cobbett's (patriotic) newspaper: 'The Porcupine \ Fear God Honor the King'. The first column is headed 'Benefits of the Union'. Broken bottles, glasses, pipes, and other signs of debauch lie on the floor. Shamrock is worn in the hats of Irishmen: Moira, Clermont, Mathew, Davies, Hanger, and two military officers. Beneath the design is engraved the toast to the Union but with quotation marks. Description from the British Museum.